Danger signal



Nov. 3, 1925.

E. F. SHIPMAN DANGER SIGNAL Filed J use 20 1925 Patented Nov. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES EMANUEL F. SHIPMAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DANGER SIGNAL.

Application filed June 20, 1925. Serial No. 38,396.

are either above or below the surface of the street.

My improvements relate more especially to a portable danger sign which is collapsible for convenient transportation and which, when open, provides a substantial self-supporting structure. v

My invention consists of a danger sign formed of. two sheet metal frames hinged together at their upper end with means to hold them in spread and spaced relation at the bottom, said frames provided with suitable danger notices upon their surfaces and having a tubular support at the top combined with a vertical rod adapted to pass down through said support into the ground and preferably carrying at its upper end danger signs.

MIy invention also comprises the aforesaid structure when the signs on the 'rod are formed upon hinged plates adjustable at an angle to each other and having associated means for locking them in such adjusted positions whereby the notice of danger may be seen from all points of observation about the device.

My invention further embodies the hinged frames aforesaid when the guide for the rod is secured to one of the frames and a handle is secured to the other of the frames, the parts being so related and associated supporting position, the guide for the rod extends substantially vertical and the handle projects laterally to provide clearance for the rod and which, when the rod is removed 5 and the frames folded in collapsed condition for portability, enables the handle to that, when the frames are extended in selfextend vertically above the collapsed dane ger signs.

My invention also comprehends other details of construction which, together with the features above enumerated, are fully described hereinafter and more particularly pointed out in the claims. I

Referring to the drawings: Fig. l is a front elevation of a danger sign embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the lower part of the apparatus when collapsed for portability; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the hinged frames; Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the danger sign devices on the rod; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrative of the construction of one of the hinged plates and its method of attachment to'the vertical rod.

2, 2, are plate frames-hinged together at their upper ends, as indicated at 3, 3. The hinges 3, 3, are located at a distance apart so as to leave an open space at the middle between the hinges. These hinges may be made in any suitable way, but I prefer to form them of the sheet metal constituting part of the frames, as will be understood by reference to'Fig. 4. These frames 2, 2, are rectangular in shape and the side edges and bottom are bent over to form channels or grooves 4, 4, and 5. The lower parts of the frames 2, 2, are straight and continuous and devoid of feet so that the frames rest directly upon the ground, as shown, giving great frictional contact. 'The lateral end portions of each of the frames are provided with angle iron lugs 6 to which are hinged the spacing bars 7, 7, and these spacing bars are hinged together at 8 so that they constitute spacing and bracing means between the two frames at each end of the device.- These braces are collapsible, as indicated in Fig. 3, when the frames 2 are folded toward each other for portability. When the frames are spread, as indicated in Fig. 2, the braces then form a strut between them and hold them apart so that they have a firm support upon the ground.-

Riveted to the middle upper portion of one of the frames 2 is a handle 9 which is so positioned that when the parts are col- 7 spread frames 2, 2, as will be lapsed, as shown in Fig. 3, the handle is directly above the frames whereby, when carrying the same, the weight is exerted directly downward. The handle is preferably looped, as shown, and in alinement with it there is provided: a tubular guide 10 which is secured to the other of the frames and is preferably arranged on an incline,

as shown in Fig. '8 so that when the frames.

are spread as indicated in Figs. 2 and the tubular guide part 10 will point directly upward and the handle 9, will be moved laterall so as to leave a clear space above the tubular guide portionto permitthe anchoring and signal rod 13 passing downward through the tubular guide, and into. the ground;- at a place intermediate. of the readily understood by reference to, Fig. 2. ,It will also be seen that whil the rod 13 anchors the danger signal frames 2, 2, against displacement, said, frames with the tubular guide. also act to support the rod 13 in a vertical position, so that there is direct coaction of the parts each with the other.

i The. rod 13, may be utilized for holding a flag,lainp or other signal means, but I p efer that it shall. be pngirided with, a pair of suitable collapsible plates having, the word Danger or other suitable signal thereon which, when in adjusted position, will indicate danger from all positions about them. In the preferred construction, I employ two plates 15, desirably circular and slotted as at 19. from the center outward to one edge. The remaining portion in alinement with the said slotted portion 19. is, stamped, up into, oppositely directed looped portions 1'? and 18lto. permit the passage. of the, rod 113, assume moreclea fly understood from 6. One ofthese plates will ag'suniethe position shown in Fig. 6 andthe second plate will b sleeved upon the rod 13 but an in-- vertedposition so that the two, plates practically, cross, each other and bothjare hinged upo the. rod. These, plates are suppOlfted atthe upper end of the rod by a washer held in position by a cotter pin 21 In this manner, the plates may be revolved about the. rod to lie flat against each other orut 'i ey may be. revolve-d tofposition them at ri ht anglesto each other, as shown in Figs. 1 2 and To, retain them, in their position at right angles, a, sliding block sleeved upon the. rod may be employed, said block p'1;-0 vided with transverse notches or grooves 23 upon its, lower part. Preferably, these notches are arranged at right angles Q each other, so as to fit down over the upper edges of the plates 15, 15, and hold thein at right angles to each. other. The upper nd of the rod may be bent into. a loop, as at 2.4;, for preventing the block 22 and the signal plates 15 from ben g disengaged from the rod. It

will also be understood that by raising the block 22, the two plates 15 may be brought in parallel relation and the block may then be lowered to lock them together. The block 22 constitutes, in efl'ect, a locking means for holding the plates at right angles to each other and}, if desired, alsofconstitute a locking means for holding the plates in their parallel relation. It is not necessary that there shall: be. a. close. fit between the plates and the notches of the block 22, as the plates may be made of thin metal and the notches sufiiciently wide to engage the edges of both of the plates at one time.

In respect to plates 15, they may be colored in any suitable manner, either all red th de i it re etter e in -Danger asfshown. It will be noted that the first three letters of the word will come. upon one side of the rod 13 and the remain ing three letters on the other side. Consequently, whether we look edge-on on one. of the plates, as indicated in Ifigs. 1 andQ, or look in a direction intermediate said plates, as in Fig. 5,, the word," Dangei stands. boldly out notwithstanding that in he first a e a l of the letters re Q1 one plate, whereas in the second inSqonpe. half of the letters are on one plate and half the. other. I, however, do not limit myself to the particular arrangement of these letters nor to the shape or configuration of the pl ates.

The hinged fran1esi2, 2, maybe painted upon. their outer surfaces with the word Danger or any other words or insignia which may be desired, but prefer that these frames shall be provided with detachable. sign plates 11 which are of a shape to Sl de. are n o. the g ove 4-, an f b0 feceiyed at the bottonir in the groove 5. These ren oyable signs may retain their ppsitionj by nearest col-moot, but' are pref- "ably retained means of a small, bolt" 12 Pa n rm sh t n, t e o y the f me 2. 'As will be seen from l, the, sign contains the word ranger which may, be displayed in any suitable manner, usually with considerable, red color. I also Pre e o p a e, 129. he i n m pointing upward or downward and associated with the words Men working above" or Men working. below, the case may be, to give to the public sufii 'Ventinforn ation, as to the. direction from which the danger might arise. YVhilef I have found type, 01 sign signal well suited to, the purpose, I do not restrict myself inany mannor to. the particular. wording upon the sign. It will beunderstood that by making, the danger signs removable. from the hinged frames, these. signs may be. readily changed to suit the. particular character or the work beingv done For instance, if, the work isbcits ns v rhea h r i u s nd cated in Fig. 1 with the arrow pointing upward is suitable, but if the workmen arsengaged in trench work or at some place beform of removable plates, they may bev readily replaced and consistently designate the direction from which the danger may arise. It will be further understood that by employing removable signs 11, both they and the body 'of the frames 2, 2, may be of lighter metal since they reinforce each'other. Furthermore, the turning of the edges at 4 and 5 of the frames 2 gives additional rigidity and strength and this is further increased when the sign plates are added.

In practice, the sign plates are more artistic when they are embossed, such as indicated in the double lines around the word Danger and about the border of the plate, and such embossing adds considerably to the rigidity. By reason of this, the total weight of the signal device may be considerably reduced over what would be necessary if the reinforcing was required to be by use of angle irons or other forms of rolled-metal bars to which the signs would be riveted.

My improved device is simple to construct, is durable in use, and eflicient for the purpose intended. It will be noted that the main weight of the device as a whole is arranged close to the ground and is, therefore, in a position to offer the greatest resistance against wind. Furthermore, it is anchored by means of the rod and, consequently, is enabled to retain its position against any reasonable force which might otherwise displace it. Its larger or main danger sign is sufficiently large and directed at an angle that makes it easily read and, therefore, readily observed, but this is supplemented by the conspicuous danger sign on top of the rod in approximate a-linement with the vision of the pedestrain which enhances the value of the device as a whole as a danger sign.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable, and while I have in the present instance shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that I do not restrict myself to the details, as the same are susceptible of modification in Various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. A portable danger sign, comprising two side frames hinged together at the top by separate hinge portions and provided with means for holding the lower portions of the frames in spaced relation, the upper hinged portions providing a space between the hinges, one of said frames provided with a tubular guide and the other .of said frames provided with a handle in substantial alinement with the plane of the frame to which it is attached, said tubular guide and handle arranged in the space between the hinged portions.

- 2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein further, there is combined a vertical rod which extends through the tubular guide for attachment in the ground, whereby the danger sign is anchored when in spread relation.

3. The invention according to claim 1, wherein further, there is combined a vertical rod which extends through the tubular guide for attachment in the ground, whereby the danger sign is anchored when in spread relation, and danger sign means carried upon the upper end of the rod at a distance above the hinged frames.

4:. The invention according to claim 1, combined with a vertical anchoring rod adapted to extend downward through the tubular guide when the frames are spread, said rod having at its upper end a danger sign comprising two sheet metal parts centrally sleeve-d upon the rod and interengaged with each other so that they may be turned in substantially the same plane or respectively adjusted to planes at right angles to each other, and locking means for holding the sheet metal parts in definite adjusted positions relatively to each other.

5. The invention according to claim 1, combined with a vertical anchoring rod adapted to extend downward through the tubular guide when the frames are spread, said rod having at its upper end a danger sign comprising two sheet metal parts centrally sleeved upon the rod and interengaged with each other so that they may be turned in substantially the same plane or respectively adjusted to planes at right angles to each other, and locking means for holding the sheet metal parts in definite adjusted positions relatively to each other, said 1ock ing means consisting of a slidable block upon the rod and having vertical slots at an angle to each other whreby they may receive the edges of the two sheet metal parts to hold them in angular relation.

6. A danger sign, comprising two sheet metal frames hinged, together at the top and having their side and bottom edges bent outwardly and over to form grooves, combined with removable danger signs adapted to be received in the grooved portion of the frames, means for detachably holding the signs against rising in the grooves, spacing means for holding the frames in spread and spaced relation, and a handle structure secured to one of the frames and extending hinged ends, the bottom grooved edges of the frames forming continuous supporting edges for sustain ng the danger. Signv upon the ground.

The invention according to claim 6. wherein further, there. is provided a vertical z nehoring rod conneoted with the hinged frames a'Iid exftellding. below 'i' heir, loyver edges for the purposof-being driven into the ground.

Intestimony of which irwention I hereunto set Iny hand.

\ EMANUEL SIiI MAN, 

